ANDE’s Circular Opportunities 2022 program was launched, which seeks to promote the effective transition to a Circular Economy.
This year there will be two calls: one that seeks to support activities to promote the Circular Economy, and another that supports the Start-up of Circular Projects.
Both will co-finance activities or projects that promote improvements in productivity and competitiveness in companies. ANDE’s Circular Opportunities Program is framed in Uruguay Circular, which brings together all the circular initiatives of institutions such as MIEM, the Ministry of the Environment, ANDE, Page Uruguay and UNIDO.
The launch, held in the Idea Vilariño room of the ANTEL Telecommunications Tower, was attended by the president of the National Development Agency (ANDE), Carmen Sánchez; the (interim) Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), Walter Verri; the National Director of Quality and Environmental Evaluation of the Ministry of the Environment, Eduardo Andrés López; and the representative for the region of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Manuel Albaladejo. ANDE directors Martín Ambrosi and Federico Perdomo also accompanied the launch.
On the occasion, the president of ANDE Carmen Sánchez highlighted that “this program is very important for us, because we continue to renew our commitment to a more sustainable and more circular Uruguay. We are convinced that this is the path for many MSMEs”.
The circular economy promotes the production of goods and services in a sustainable way, reducing consumption, time, energy sources and waste. A model is proposed where the products, processes and services are specially designed to optimize the resources used and minimize the generation of waste. The basic principles imply: reduce, reuse, repair and recycle in a continuous circle.
After the opening by the authorities, the two calls were presented, and the testimonies of two projects supported by ANDE’s Circular Opportunities were shared through videos: Vitanna – Tannat Pomace Flour, made from warehouse waste ; and Oceánica – Organic Beer, which is made through a sustainable process.
These are the details of both calls.
Promotion of Circular Initiatives
Promotion of Circular Initiatives is an instrument aimed at co-financing activities proposed by institutions that promote the Circular Economy in the country, through which companies and enterprises are supported to be able to carry out their projects. Those business associations, non-state public institutions, technology centers, educational institutions, Sponsoring Institutions of Entrepreneurship and other private organizations that have the appropriate technical capacities to carry out the activities presented may apply. The selected projects will receive a non-reimbursable contribution of up to 70% of the project cost with a limit of up to $U 260,000.
Commissioning of Circular Projects
The objective of this call is to promote improvements in productivity and competitiveness in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and enterprises, through the co-financing of projects that fall within some of the lines of action of the circular economy. There will be a category for startups and MSMEs in their initial stage (with less than 12 months of starting their activity); and another for MSMEs with more time since their activity started. The non-reimbursable financial support for each project (maximum amount) will range from $900,000 to $1,900,000, depending on the application category; and the co-financing will be up to 80% of the total amount of each project.
The application period for both calls runs from June 7 to July 22, 2022. The website to apply is as follows: circularopportunities.org
